GAH!

[Eiko]

Right now, I'm working on learning the basics on conjugating verbs. I understand (mostly) about the consonant and vowel verbs. But now, I'm not so sure:

These are consonant verbs, right?

Abaku
Aburu
Arau

And these are vowel verbs, correct?

Abiru
Abiseru
Afureru

So, AFURERU, would be "afuremasu" and not "afurerimasu"? And, does this mean that any verb, in its dictionary form, if it ends in -eru, -iru-, or -aru, is a vowel verb?
That makes me sad. I thought I had it, too.

[kanadajin]

i'm not sure but i think you were wight the first time.. because i think thats wrong

I'm not sure.. lol

[Mukade]

What I think you are calling "Vowel Verbs" are often called "Group I Verbs" or "-U Verbs" in Japanese language class are (it depends on which textbook you are using). They are called the Go-dan doushi, or "5-step Verbs" in Japanese.

Some examples:

kau
kiku
sasu
tatsu
shinu
yomu
kaeru
tobu

Basically, any verb that doesn't fit into the next two categories is a 5-step Verb.

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The "Group II Verbs" or "-Ru Verbs" are called iru/eru doushi in Japanese. Basically, any verb that ends in an iru or eru sound fall into this category (I highlighted 'basically' because there are a few exceptions, like "kaeru" from above).

Some examples:

miru
ireru
kiru
taberu

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The "Group III Verbs" or "Irregular Verbs" are easy to remember since there are only two - suru and kuru.

[Eiko]

Um, thank you for the help, but I still don't understand. I'll just have to wait until I get into a Japanese class. But all the same, arigato gozaimasu.

[InsanityRanch]

I'll take a stab at this one, too.

Most verbs that end "eru" or "iru" are ichidan, which I think you are calling vowel verbs.

But there are exceptions!

帰る (kaeru) meaning return, is a godan verb, which you are calling a consonant verb, I think. However 変える (also kaeru) meaning change, is an ichidan verb.

In most cases the distinction can be made by looking at the plain form in Japanese: ichidan verbs mostly are written with two syllables after the kanji -- the 'e' or 'i' syllable and ru. So: 食べる(taberu),　下げる(sageru),　浴びる(abiru) are typical ichidan verbs. The "regular" exceptions are two-syllable verbs such as 見る(miru) and　得る(eru), where the penultimate syllable is actually "inside" the kanji.

Godan verbs, by contrast, are either written with only one syllable after the kanji like 行く(iku),　飛ぶ(tobu), and　帰る(kaeru), or the syllable before the ru is NOT an 'e' or 'i' sounding syllable like 高まる(takamaru) and 上がる(agaru).

Admittedly, this is not totally simple and for a beginner, the easiest solution may be simply to memorize the exceptional "eru" / "iru" verbs that are common. There are only a few I think...

HTH!

Shira